St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-07
ANTE.ELECTIoN ETHICS.

The most significant fact in connection
with the result of Tuesdays election, was
the reversal of the deep laid plans of the
political bosses. In solemn conclave early
in the winter it was decided by these bosses
that something must be done, and quickly
too. They reasoned thus: '"This city is
certainly Democratic as it stands, and at
the spring election the council will be Dem
Ocratic. We must change the ward lines
and add some new wards which must be
Republican, so we can maintain
supremacy in the council" Accordingly
it was decided to mass the
Democratic strength in the First Third
and Sixth wards and add five new wards,
all of which were figured to be Republican.
TO clinch things. it was decided to post
pone the next election until the fall of 1888,
when they hoped the national and state
elections would help the party out All of
this was duly accomplished by the partisan
legislature. But, alas the scheme did not
work. The Democrats swept the city from
stem to stern. elected majority of the
candidates for the two boards, and carried
the council. In sackcloth and ashes the
bosses are now bordering these things.
-
Probably the youngest alderman in the
next council will be from the First ward.
Charles A. Hanscom. His selection and
election were a triumph for the young
Democracy of the ward. His candidacy
began in the Young Mems Democratic club
of the First ward, and with this indorse-
ment he went into the fight. The failure
of the Irish voters to unite upon a candi-
date was in his favor and lie
received the Endorsement OF the
Germans and then of the
party. His opponent. John Fleetham, is
an old warhorse and his friends thought he
would tear open the First, but the party
stood together and the ward came in with
the banner Democratic majority. Aid.
Hanscom is of the sash, door and blind
| manufacturing firm of Goodridge, Hanscom
& Co., and resides On the island.
~
| The plan of having the election returns
| brought in by the police force, as in New
York and Chicago, was tried here for the
| first time on Tuesday and worked admir-
ably. Mayor Ames committed the duty to
! Col. Hill, chief of police, by whom it was
| eXpeditously executed. The four captains
| were given instructions, and when they
| detailed men to the several polling
| places, each was supplied with printed
blank for the returns. No time was lost
| and not precinct missed, and the news
papers found the system the most SatiSfac-
tory yet tried. Col. Hill deserves the
thanks of the GLOBE for his systematic
| plan and its successful execution.
80
| After several trials and many backsets.
j. d. MuldoOn has at last succeeded in get
ting into a seat in the council. While the
old Sixth counted him among its voters he
| had no chance, with its ponderous Demo-
| cratic majority, but once cut into the new
! Eleventh, he saw his chance and made the
most of it. He is quite prominent figure
down there and bears the scars of a great
many hard-fought political fights
! -
1t is singular what change few years
have wrought in Minneapolis politics. Four
years ago the men who would have init
mated that Minneapolis was Democratic
would have been well laughed at. When
Blaine rolled up 5000 majority in less than
three years ago. it was but the natural vote,
| yet to- day one finds the city certainly DEM
ocratic and becoming more SO as the time
rolls on. The change is from the bosses to
the people. Never was city more boss
ridden than Minneapolis of few years
since, but now the people are coming into
| possession at last.
J. L. Johnson is another chance produc-
! ton of Republican legislation. He is a
Swede, and in everyday life draws reve-
nue. by shoeing the good people of the
| Eleventh ward. dn the late rush for Scan-
dinavian candidates johnson came to the
front. and will now make the second of his
nationality in the municipal congress.
Pictures of johnson were circulated through